Who We Are

An independent organization of leading scientists and journalists researching and reporting the facts about our changing climate and its impact on the public.

What We Do

Climate Central surveys and conducts scientific research on climate change and informs the public of key findings. Our scientists publish and our journalists report on climate science, energy, sea level rise. Read More

About Our Expertise

Members of the Climate Central staff and board are among the most respected leaders in climate science. Staff members are authorities in communicating climate and weather links, sea level rise, climate. Read More

In its most recent major report, in 2007, the IPCC projected a sea level rise of 0.6 - 1.9 feet by 2100.1 But that did not take into account what was acknowledged to be a likely increase in the disintegration of polar ice sheets — because the science in that area was poorly understood.

Several papers published since 2007 have greatly improved our understanding of the relation between ice sheets and sea level, both by looking at evidence from the past more closely234 and by modeling the physics of ice sheet motion more accurately.5 By the end of this century, most experts now think communities should plan for a total rise of at least three feet above current levels, although it could be as much as 6.6 feet (if we continue burning fossil fuels intensively, and the more pessimistic analyses are right) or as little as 1.6 feet (if we cut back significantly on CO2 and other greenhouse gases, and the most optimistic analyses are right). This range of sea level rise estimates will likely continue to change and potentially narrow with further research.

Among the consequences of significant sea level rise could be more frequent and damaging floods, threats to buildings and other infrastructure, inundation of low-lying islands and coastal cities, mass displacement of human populations and risks to ecosystems.